Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders FC were two of the MLS representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup and have been among the best teams since the turn of the decade.
On Sunday, the two meet in the 2025 Leagues Cup Final, with Miami looking for their second title after winning in 2023 and the Sounders hoping to capture the ninth trophy in their history.
For Miami, it comes at a critical time. They fell short of their Concacaf Champions Cup dreams, and are surrounded by doubt that aging stars can hold up through the gruelling road to MLS Cup. Meanwhile, Seattle are back in a final for the first time since winning the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup.
By qualifying for the final, both teams secured berths in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup as well.
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Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s match.
Seattle Sounders vs. Inter Miami Head-to-Head record
Current Form (All Competitions)
Seattle Sounders
Inter Miami
LA Galaxy 0–2 Seattle Sounders – 8/27/25
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Inter Miami 3–1 Orlando City – 8/27/25
Seattle Sounders 5–2 Sporting Kansas City – 8/24/25
D.C. United 1–1 Inter Miami – 8/23/25
Seattle Sounders 0–0 Puebla (4–3 on pens) – 8/20/25
Inter Miami 2–1 Tigres UANL – 8/20/25
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Minnesota United 1–0 Seattle Sounders – 8/16/25
Inter Miami 3–1 LA Galaxy – 8/16/25
LA Galaxy 0–4 Seattle Sounders – 8/10/25
Orlando City SC 4–1 Inter Miami – 8/10/25
Country
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Channel/Stream
United States/Global streaming
MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
United States TV
TUDN, Univision
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Lionel Messi scored a late winning goal for Inter Miami in the semifinals against Orlando City SC. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Inter Miami left it late in the semifinal, but got past Florida rivals Orlando City with a 3–1 win, with Messi’s 89th-minute goal standing as the winner. Now, they eye a second Leagues Cup title, after winning in 2023 in Messi’s first run of games with the club.
While Miami have been relatively inconsistent throughout the season, they have shown their strengths in Leagues Cup, with several players stepping up for Messi as he battled injuries through the final two Phase One matches against Necaxa and Pumas UNAM, as well as the quarterfinal against Tigres UANL.
Messi scored in his return to Leagues Cup play and looks set to go for the final. This season, he has 25 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, and will look to make Sunday’s Leagues Cup title the 46th trophy of his world-record-setting career.
Outside of Messi, Luis Suárez has stepped up in the tournament with three goals, and Rodrigo De Paul has proven his worth after making his debut against Atlas in the first match of the competition. Meanwhile, Maxi Falcón has improved at the back, and both Oscar Ustari and Rocco Ríos Novo have shown well between the sticks.
As for injuries, Miami will be missing depth striker Allen Obando, as they hit near full health for one of the rare times this season.
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In 2023, Miami defeated Nashville SC to claim the title, and Messi won the Player of the Tournament award. Can he and the club do it again this time around?
Inter Miami are unlikely to make many changes from the lineup that faced Orlando City in the semifinal. / FotMob
Inter Miami Predicted Lineup vs. Orlando City (4-2-3-1): Ustari; Weigandt, Luján, Falcón, Alba; Busquets, De Paul; Rodriguez, Messi, Segovia; Suárez
Pedro De La Vega has been a standout player for the Seattle Sounders through their Leagues Cup campaign. / Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
The Seattle Sounders were the lone MLS or Liga MX team to secure all nine points from their three Phase One games, with wins against Cruz Azul, Santos Laguna and Tijuana, highlighted by their tournament-opening 7–0 trouncing of Concacaf Champions Cup winners, Cruz Azul.
While the win over Cruz Azul got things started and showcased the goal of the tournament from Designated Player winger Pedro De La Vega, it only set the tone for the rest of Leagues Cup. In the quarterfinals, they knocked off Puebla with Andrew Thomas’ penalty shootout heroics in net, and swiftly beat the LA Galaxy 2–0 in the semifinal.
So far, the Sounders have outscored opponents 13–2 in the Leagues Cup and have been in stellar form in MLS play as well, with five wins and three draws in their last nine MLS matches since the FIFA Club World Cup—including a 5–2 win over Sporting Kansas City in the middle of Leagues Cup action.
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De La Vega has been a key factor for the Sounders in the tournament, scoring three goals from the wing. Meanwhile, Osaze De Rosario has three goals from the striker position, but could have several more with sharper finishing. In addition to the goal scorers, the center back pairing of Yeimar Gomez and Jackson Ragen has continued to stand out, while the midfield pivot of Obed Vargas and Cristian Roldan remains consistent.
Expect Thomas to remain the starting goalkeeper option for the Leagues Cup final with veteran backstop Stefan Frei on the bench. However, head coach Brian Schemtzer will have to adjust his lineup, with right back Nouhou and striker Danny Muskovski both suspended.
Injury-wise, the Sounders will be without Paul Arriola and João Paulo, and Jordan Morris who remains out long-term.
The Sounders have eight trophies in their history and won the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup to earn FIFA Club World Cup 2025 qualification. But, after two seasons without playing a final, will they be able to rise to the occasion against Miami?
Seattle Sounders FC’s predicted lineup against Inter Miami. / FotMob
Seattle Sounders Predicted Lineup vs. Inter Miami (4-2-3-1): Thomas; A. Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Baker-Whiting; Vargas, C. Roldan; Rothrock, Ferreira, De La Vega; De Rosario
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Inter Miami have had their eyes on trophies since signing Lionel Messi in 2023, but the Seattle Sounders have built their club’s legacy on the eight titles they’ve won since joining MLS in 2009.
Neither team will have it easy in this match, and the talent leans towards Miami. However, with the home-field advantage and lack of travel, in addition to the opportunity to win this competition for the first time, Seattle may hold the slight advantage heading into the clash.
De La Vega is playing like a true DP and Seattle have looked incredible since the FIFA Club World Cup. Beating Messi and Co. in a final is no easy task, but the Rave Green might just be the team to do it.
Score Prediction: Seattle Sounders 3–1 Inter Miami
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Lionel Messi scored twice in a four-goal second half, defender Telasco Segovia added a goal and two assists and defending champion Inter Miami CF rallied to beat Orlando City SC 4-2 on Sunday night, winning for the first time at Inter&Co Stadium.
Messi took a pass from Segovia and scored in the 57th minute to tie it 2-2, and Segovia scored unassisted in the 85th for the lead. Messi put the finishing touch on the victory when he scored off a free kick in the 90th.
“The victory belongs exclusively to the players,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game. “In the second half, they were a championship team. There were no tactics, nothing like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience, commitment. I think the team came out because they were champions last year.
“In the end, the players showed it. This victory is theirs.”
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Messi’s first two goals of the season give him 52 in his first 55 regular-season MLS matches — 51 of them in his past 49 appearances. It also brought the reigning MLS MVP to 898 career goals scored, including 672 for Barcelona and 115 for Argentina.
“He’s the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself,” Mascherano said of Messi. “When he was driving forward, he had more attacking options, and with so many opportunities, he clearly has the ability to create chances like no one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”
Marco Pašalić took a pass from Iván Angulo and scored in the 18th minute to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead. Pašalić has scored in four straight matches against Inter Miami.
Inter Miami players celebrate after scoring a goal against Orlando City in MLS.
Defender Griffin Dorsey set up Martín Ojeda for a goal six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage that stood through halftime.
Inter Miami cut it to 2-1 four minutes into the second half on Mateo Silvetti’s first career goal. Defenders Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists as the 20-year-old forward found the net in his fifth career appearance.
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Segovia had eight goals and six assists as a rookie last season, while Mura collected his first assist in his first season.
Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, turned away three shots — all in the second half of his second start with Inter Miami, but let in a soft goal for Orlando’s first.
Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.
Teenager Colin Guske, 19, will miss Orlando City’s next match after the rookie picked up two yellow cards in his first start — the second one led to his exit in the 88th minute.
Inter Miami, which had never won in its previous nine trips to Orlando, was coming off a 3-0 road loss to LAFC.
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Orlando City swept Inter Miami during the regular season last year and leads the all-time series 8-7-4.
Inter Miami plays D.C. United on Saturday at Audi Field. Orlando City is also on the road with a match against New York City FC.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.
Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Much-needed rain fell across South Florida on Sunday, but the downpour quickly led to flooding and traffic headaches.
“The drainage systems aren’t the best but in ten minutes it will be gone,” one person said.
The rain lasted longer than 10 minutes, flooding several spots along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.
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In one neighborhood, at least a foot of water blocked the entrance. Drivers who attempted to pass through sent waves crashing onto nearby sidewalks.
The heavy rain also snarled traffic on parts of Interstate 95 and on the bridges to and from Miami Beach, slowing drivers trying to get around the area.
“It’s Miami for you. What do they call it, a sun shower?” one driver said.
The weather disrupted Sunday plans for many. The 26th annual Miami Heat Family Festival was cut short after strong winds swept through Dan Paul Plaza, knocking over several tents.
There is no word yet on how or when the Miami Heat plan to make up the family festival.
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Brett Knese
Brett Knese joined the Local 10 News team as a general assignment reporter in March 2025.
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